Method of producing electrotypes.



H. S. LEVY.

METHOD OF PRODUCING ELEGTROTYPES.

ABPLIOATION FILED r1113. 11, 1911.

1,017,776. v Patented Feb. 20, .1912.

1 W 11 \1 /Z%/ X i ments in the Method of Producing-Electr trot-ypes used for printing purposes.

. of the great diificulties heretofore expert been to'secure a uniform distribution and to covered with graphite orsuch other cathode jected stream or spray impacts against the HOWARD S. LEVY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF PRODUCING ELECTROTYPES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb 2 9, i912.

Application filed. Februaryll, 1911. Serial No, 663,159.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, HOWARD S. Lnvr, a citizen of the United States of'Amer-ica, residing at Philadelphia, in the county. of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania; have inventedcertain new anduseful 'lniprove.

types, of which the following is aispeeiiie tion. i My invention relates fc-tah improvement' in the method of malringorproducing elec- Briefly stated, the method of producing electrotypes, as now'practiced, involves the following steps in the order harhedz-j-A wax matrix or mold is first made which con-- tains an impress of the plate or electrotype to be produced; thereafter a suitable cathode material is deposited upon the wax mold, the cathode material most generally used being graphite; then a film of copper is electrodeposited on the graphite "covered moldand finally-the copper film is backed with type metal and mounted on a block.

The present invention deals with the step of placing graphite on thewa'x mold and its primary object is to provideifor a uniform and speedy distribution; in aneliicient and economical manner, of the-graphite over. the face of the wax mold or matrix. One

enced the depositionof the graphite has insure a deposit of graphite in all the corners, angles, and curves of the mold. By my invention this diiiiculty is completely overcome and I produce a mold in which the impress surface is uniformly and properly material as may be employed for the purpose.

The invention consists in projecting the cathode material, preferably mixed with or held in suspension in a suitable liquid, against the face of the mold, the latter being held in such position that when the promold the graphite will adhere to the latter while the fluid will drop by gravity from the face of the mold. I may if desired move either the mold or the liquid projecting means so as to insure uniformity of distri bution, and after the graphite has been deposited on the mold the latter may be subected to washing to remove non-adhering graphite particles therefrom.

..mold.'.:

For purposes of illustration and without In practicing the invention 1 provide a suitable receptacle containing a liquid such .asflwater-into which the graphite is placed, the contents of thereceptacle being subjected to constantagitation to prevent the graphite from settling. Any suitable means may be employed to project the liquid from thev container against the inold'which is 'preferably held substantially horizontally {3.68 down over the receptacle. )ne effective means for projecting the liquid consists of atomizer-s placed, inthe receptacle compressed air being forced through such ."atomizers wherebyfhe liquid containing the graphite will be uiiiformly projected or I sprayed over the exposed surface of the mold, the graphite adhering to the latter and'the liquid dropping back into the recep ta'cle. It is also feasible to employ revolving paddles or. perforated pipes through which compressed air may be ,forcedto project the graphite against the intending to confine my invention to the use .of any specific for'inof apparatus, It show on the accompanying drawing-.two-forms of apparatus whiohare well suited to practice themethod hereinabove described.

Figure Li's a vertical sectional view of one forin of such apparatus; and Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modified form.

Referring to Fig. 1, the numeral 10 de s ignates the receptacle for containing the liq: uid 11 with which the graphite is mixed or wherein it is held in suspension. The liquid is constantly agitated,by means of paddles or blades 12 carriedby the shaft 13 which is rotated'f'rom the shaft A through the intermeshing gear wheels 15, the shaft 14 being driven from any suitable source of power (not shown). Supported at the upper partof the receptacle 10 with its impress face directed downwardly is the plate 16, which receives a uniform spray of the liquid 11 from the atomizer 17, compressed air passing through the latter from the nozzle 18 of the pipe 19 which connects with the source of compressed air supply.

in Fig; 2 ye liquid is projected against the impress ir of the plate 16-by means of a revoluble cylinder 20 having fins or ribs 21, the cylinder being carried on a-shaft 22 which is suitably driven. In this modified form of the invention the agitating paddles 12* carried by the shafts 13 are preferably" arranged to revolve in a horizontal plane,

two such paddles carrying shafts being used. As the cylinder 20 is revolved its ribs will project the graphite-containing-liquid uniformly over the face of the plate and deposlt the graphite thereon.

Having now described my invention, what I I claim new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is l. In'the method of producing electro against the wax matrix a liquid containing graphite while the matrix is held so that no part thereof is immersed in the liquidwhereby the graphite will be uniformly applied over the impress face of the matrix and the liquid will drop therefrom by gravity. 1

3. The herein described method of producing electrotypes which consists in plac ing a wax matrix horizontally with its impress face directed downwardly,- over but not immersed in a liquid containing a cathode material andthenprojecting said liquid against said impress face whereby said cathode material will be uniformly applied over said face and the liquid will drop therefrom by gravity.

4. The herein described method of producing electrotypes which consists in placing a wax matrix horizontally with its impress face directed downwardly, over but not im mersed in a mixture of water and graphite,

constantly agitating said mixture, and proj ecting said mixture against the impress face off the mold whereby the graphite will be uniformly applied over said impress.

face and the liquid will drop therefrom by gravity.

5. The herein described method of producing electrotypes which consist in projecting a liquid containing a cathode ma terial against a wax matrix held in a position such that the cathode material will adhere to the matrix and the liquid will drop therefrom by gravity, and thereafter re moving from the matrix-held'in the same position the superfluous or non-adhering cathode material.

6. The herein described method of producing electrotypes which..consists in projecting a liquid containing a cathode material against a wax matrix held in a position such that the cathode material will adhere to the matrix and the liquid will drop therefrom by gravity, and thereafter while the plate is held in the same position remov-- ing therefrom superfluous or non-adhering cathode-material-particles by 'a liquid spray. In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

HOlVARD S. LEVY. Witnesses:

CLARISSA FRANoK, LOUIS ARMOUR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained forfive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. 0. 

